-By Nathan Dole
THE Nyah Nyah West United Demons clipped the wings of the Mallee Eagles to score a one-goal victory in Saturday’s eighth round of senior footy in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league.
It was a superb contest between the reigning premier and the Eagles at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
The Demons led 18-15 at quarter-time and 37-28 by the main break.
Defences were well on top for most of the third quarter.
A score of 2.3 by the NNWU line-up as Mallee was held to a tally of 1.3 meant the Demons held a 15-point buffer going into the final term.
The Eagles fired up to win the quarter, 27-18, but it was the red and blue which marked a 70-64 victory.
Nyah Nyah West United’s attack was led by Alex Birch, Nic O’Neill and Liam White on two goals each.
Mallee’s Darcy Hourigan booted a match-high three goals as co-captain Zac O’Meara kicked two.
Best for the Demons were Jaydyn Stirling, Joel Walsh, Ben Shadbolt, Dominic Gallo, Nic O’Neill and Ethan Saville.
A run at back-to-back premierships by the Demons is led by Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy as co-coaches.
Best for the Eagles were Harry and Darcy McGregor, Zac O’Meara, Jonah Devlin, co-coach Harry Allen and Clinton Cummins.
Mallee also has Brent Macleod as playing co-coach.
Upset of the round was at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve where Tyntynder marked its first win of the season against Kerang.
It was Kerang which led 16-14 at quarter-time before Tyntynder won the second term, 16-2.
The Bulldogs’ run did not let up as it scored three goals in the third and another three in the last to complete a 68-43 victory.
Elia Ware led Tyntynder’s attack on three goals as Coady Gorrindge and Josh Potter chipped in with two.
A superb defensive effort by the Bulldogs held the Blues to a tally of five goals.
Best for Tyntynder were Elliot Broad, Mick Dedini, Bailey Reeves, Kyle Doran, Seno Fifita and Coady Gorringe.
The Bulldogs are jointly coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
Cooper Meehan, Jonah McKnight, Tyson Clingan, Martin Kelly, Scott Pay and Rylee Gitsham were best for the Paul Grayling-coached Kerang.
Lake Boga fought on for a 28-point win at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
The Magpies were under pressure as they led 47-43 at half-time.
In the third it was the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga which seized control to score 7.2 as Balranald added 2.3.
Although the Kangaroos won the final term, 14-9, it was Lake Boga which marked a 100-72 victory.
Nathanial Holmes-Brown and Mardy McDonald kicked three goals for the Magpies.
Other multiple goalkickers for Lake Boga were Jayden Lonergan, Koben Ryan and Xavier Sherlock on two.
Balranald’s leading goalkicker was Colin Andrews with three as Lachlan Collihole, Seth Connell and Graham Hampton added two each.
Recruited to the Magpies from Heathcote, Braden Padmore was best afield along with Koben Ryan, Will Gardner, Kaden Irvan, Hunter Hartland and Xavier Sherlock.
Tanner Coulthard, Jack Salau, Ian Fuller, Jarryd Stead, Ryan Middlebrook and Daniel Harris were Balranald’s best.
The Kangaroos are jointly coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau.
Cohuna Kangas won three quarters in a 109-58 result at home against Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Jack Geary-coached Cohuna raced to a 28-9 lead by quarter time.
Both teams did plenty of attacking to score four goals each in the second.
The Kangas led 60-35 by the long break and then put the result beyond doubt as they scored 5.3 and kept the Saints to a point in the third quarter.
The Brad Morris-coached Tooleybuc Manangatang worked hard to win the last term, 22-16.
Leading goalkickers for Cohuna were Joel Helman on four and Thomas Toma with three.
The Kangas had Jayden Cordy, Jacob Mitchell and Ricky Monti chip in with two each.
Best in the Saints’ attack was Ethan Johnstone with four.
Cohuna’s best were Tom Toma, Joel Helman, Jacob Mitchell, Jack Geary, Ricky Monti and Brenton Conforti.
The Saints’ best were Ethan Johnstone, Seb Rogers, Connor Mcdonald, Isaac Franks, Josh Koster and Julian Muir.
Woorinen marked a 25-goal win at home against Swan Hill.
The Tigers slammed on 7.6 and kept the Swans to a behind in the opening term.
Woorinen then scored six, seven and six goals across the next three quarters in a 172-22 result.
Doug Beames led the attack on five goals as Matt Perry booted four.
Other multiple goalkickers for the yellow and black were Jose Miliado and Kyle Skene on three, and Jye Barry, Taylor Cameron, Xavia Elford and Hugh Thompson with two.
Kallen Heslop kicked two goals for the Swans.
Best for the Tim Free-coached Woorinen were Taylor Cameron, Doug Beames, Henry Thompson, Matt Perry, Jose Miliado and Blake Reid.
Was another tough hit-out for the Michael Herlihy-coached Swan Hill in which Cooper Angus, Tom Holdstock, Will Burns, Bryson Gilbert, Thomas Corridan and Luke Phelan were best.
Koondrook Barham had the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 268 per cent, 32 points; Cohuna Kangas 266, 24; Mallee Eagles 256, 24; Koondrook Barham 111, 20; Nyah Nyah West United 132, 16; Tooleybuc Manangatang 84, 12; Kerang 81, 12; Lake Boga 70, 12; Tyntynder 53, 4; Balranald 34, 4; Swan Hill 31, 0.
There will be no play in the Central Murray FNL on King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
Round nine will be played on June 14.
Kerang takes on Nyah Nyah West United from 2.30pm at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Lake Boga faces Tyntynder at Lake Boga Sports Club.
It’s the Saints against the Kangaroos as Tooleybuc Manangatang hosts Balranald at Manangatang.
Swan Hill and Cohuna Kangas will clash at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Koondrook Barham meets Woorinen at Barham Recreation Reserve.
Mallee Eagles has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
31 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
22 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
21 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
21 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
17 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
16 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
14 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
14 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
14 Zak Bozanich, Kerang.
14 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
14 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
14 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
14 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
13 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
12 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
11 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
11 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
11 Ethan McKnight, Kerang.
11 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
10 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
9 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
9 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
9 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
8 Alex Birch, Nyah Nyah West United.
8 Tristan Dalbon, Nyah Nyah West United.
8 Lee Dale, Koondrook Barham.
8 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
8 Mardy McDonald, Lake Boga.
8 Darcy McGregor, Mallee Eagles.
8 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
8 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.
8 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.